When buying their first “big” boat, most folks look for something with a bona fide cabin, an express cruiser type with berths, a galley and so forth. But is that smart? Most people spend very little of their on-the-water time cruising – they make day-trips to a nearby beach, or water ski, or just hang out with friends on the boat. They don’t need a full cabin – but it’s nice to have a place to get out of the sun now and then, have lunch or take a nap. For that, a cuddy cabin is ideal, and when the boat’s as large as the Regal 2750, it’s even better.

Specifications

Regal 2750 Cuddy (2010-) Specifications

Length Overall

28' 6'' 8.7 m

Dry Weight

6,100 lbs. 2766 kg w/5.7

Beam

8' 6'' 2.6 m

Tested Weight

N/A

Draft

36'' 0.9 m

Fuel Cap

86 gal.325 L

Deadrise/Transom

24 deg.

Water Cap

11 gal.42 L

Max Headroom

49'' 1.2 m

Bridge Clearance

7' 6'' 2.2 m

Prices, features, designs, and equipment are subject to change. Please see your local dealer or visit the builder's website for the latest information available on this boat model.

Engine Options

Regal 2750 Cuddy (2010-) Captain's Report

With a cuddy, the outdoors is your “cabin.” Regal sets up the 2750 with a cockpit wet bar to port, an ersatz galley – they call it a “convenience center” -- to starboard. Add the optional gas grill, and it’s a real galley. Full camper canvas is also available.

Get on the FasTrac

Regal bases the 2750 Cuddy on its patented FasTrac hull, a single-stepped bottom that reduces drag and increases efficiency. At planing speeds, the main component of resistance is skin friction between the hull and the water. The step – and it must be carefully designed to work correctly – introduces air under the boat, essentially to lubricate the hull/water interface and reduce skin friction and therefore overall resistance. Less resistance = more speed with given horsepower, or less horsepower required for a given speed. Less hp means lower fuel consumption. Steps have been used to increase speed almost since the first engine was installed in the first hull, and today they are coming back into fashion.

The wet bar, or “refreshment center,” as Regal calls it, has a Corian countertop, sink and lots of under-counter stowage – unless you invest $762 in the optional refrigerator. We prefer to bring food and drink iced-down in a portable cooler; a 36-qt Igloo is standard.

Not Just Faster

FasTrac has other advantages, too, according to Regal. Combined with its 24-degree deadrise, the stepped hull produces a faster hole shot and improved acceleration. Top speed is higher vs. a straight deep-V, and by refining the shape and placement of the step Regal designers have maintained precision handling; a poorly designed step can radically impair handling, sometimes to the danger point. If you’re thinking of buying a stepped-hull boat, be sure it’s from a reputable manufacturer who has made the necessary effort to perfect it, and who has tested it over a wide range of conditions. Regal has been building the FasTrac hull since 1997 and has used it in lots of hulls, so by now we think you can consider it “time proven.”

The gas grill turns the cockpit into a galley; just add burgers or a steak. It’s an expensive option ($1,846), but easier, cleaner and safer than cooking on a hibachi hanging over the side.

Lots of Awards

Regal covers the 2750 Cuddy with a limited lifetime hull warranty. The company claims to be the first one to offer that depth of coverage. We don’t know it that’s true, but Regal has been building boats for more than 40 years, and there are a lot of happy Regal owners out there. The company was founded in 1969 by Paul and Carol Kuck, and it’s still owned by the Kuck family. J.D. Powers has ranked the company tops in its class six times in the past four years; the NMMA has awarded Regal 19 customer satisfaction awards in the past seven years; and Quality Magazine ranked the company in the top 25% of all American companies for manufacturing excellence. Regal is one of the few boatbuilders in the world to earn the highest level of ISO certification for quality control, too.

Belowdecks

You wouldn’t want to live belowdecks aboard the 2750 Cuddy; headroom is only 4’1”. But it’s fine for sitting down to a meal if the weather turns sour, or taking a nap, or doing any of the other things you might want to do while horizontal on a boat.

With the table set up, the cuddy becomes a comfortable, albeit low, dining saloon. The overhead hatch provides some daylight, and hull ports on either side let in fresh air. Remove the table and the seat backs can become fillers to create a queen-sized berth.

There is no head compartment – a chemical toilet lives under the starboard seat. On the other hand, once the cabin door is closed, it’s a lot roomier than the typical enclosed head on a boat this size, and portholes on both sides of the hull cross-ventilate the space. OK, it would be nice to have a sink, but there’s a mirror on the forward bulkhead.

One drawback to a cuddy-cabin boat vs. a bowrider is foredeck access for anchoring or docking. Some builders mold steps into the cabin door, but Regal solves the problem differently, with fiberglass steps that swivel into place when needed, and out of the way when not.

Power Options

Regal provides a selection of engines from 260-hp to 420-hp, including a diesel. Lowest, and least expensive ($81,717), is a 300-hp MerCruiser 350 MAG MPI Bravo Three, the only MerCruiser on the list; the rest of the gas engines are Volvos. At the top, horsepower-wise, is a Volvo Penta 8.1 GXi EVC Duoprop, at 420-hp ($102,033).

The sole diesel is the 260-hp Yanmar 6BY260 Bravo Three. The Yanmar is a fine engine, but we’d like more horsepower on a boat like this. However, if you live in Europe, or anywhere gas is exorbitant, the Yanmar might be for you. Otherwise, it would be hard to justify given its cost, $109,767, and what should be less-than-thrilling performance.

Seating is straightforward, a simple U-shaped lounge that runs around the cockpit. Lift out the center cushion aft for easy access to the large swim platform. Note the Igloo cooler neatly tucked under the starboard seat.

We have not tested the 2750 Cuddy, so can’t provide accurate speed numbers. A few years ago the boat was tested by another magazine, which clocked 51.9 MPH (45.1 knots) with a 375-hp MerCruiser 496 Magnum MPI for power. Another tester claimed 49 MPH (42.6 knots) with just a 320-hp Volvo Penta 5.7L GXi under the hood. These are not our numbers, so don’t hold us to them, but they suggest the 2750 Cuddy should run in the low- to mid-40-knot range with anything other than the smallest available engine.

Extras

Regal sells the 2750 Cuddy relatively complete, with a short list of options. When we spec’d our hypothetical boat online, we added just a few: the main ones were an arch with ski pylon ($5,385); full camper canvas ($1,531); CARB-compliant engine upgrade for our chosen power ($7,267) – this is something we’ll all have to get used to, at least in the U.S. Our total cost, with a Volvo Penta 8.1 Gi EVC (MSRP $90,170) came to $107,492. Not a bad price for a 28-footer, even one that’s basically a big runabout. But a big runabout works fine for most people.

Camper canvas turns the 2750 Cuddy into an overnighter, or at least lets you stay dry if rain sets in, without huddling in the cuddy. Remove the back and side curtains, and you’ve got a Bimini.

Recommendations

Large cuddy-cabin boats don’t appeal to everyone – most people want cabins when they get into this size range -- but we think folks who consider carefully how they really use their boat might change their minds. For running around, having picnics, enjoying watersports and maybe zipping off to a waterfront restaurant now and then, the Regal 2750 Cuddy is ideal. It’s a simple boat, without a lot of systems to need maintenance or repair, is big enough to be comfortable in choppy weather, seats a whole crowd, and has a cabin large enough to be of use when it’s needed. The FasTrac hull will produce extra speed and fuel mileage vs. a straight deep-V, and Regal is a longstanding company known for quality and customer satisfaction. Based on all of this, we think the 2750 Cuddy is worth a look if you need a boat primarily for day cruising. If you want to go overnight, or need an enclosed head, Regal has other boats you might prefer.

This could be all the boat you need.

Standard and Optional Equipment

Regal 2750 Cuddy (2010-) Standard and Optional Equipment

Systems

Head: Portable

Trim Tabs

Exterior Features

Carpet: Cockpit

Swim Ladder

Swim Platform

Transom Shower

Wet bar

Canvas

Bimini Top

Cockpit Cover

= Standard = Optional

Regal 2750 Cuddy (2010-) Warranty

Regal 2750 Cuddy (2010-) Warranty Information

Warranties change from time to time. While BoatTEST.com has tried to ensure the most up-to-date warranty offered by each builder, it does not guarantee the accuracies of the information presented below. Please check with the boat builder or your local dealer before you buy any boat.

Hull Warranty

Years

Limited Lifetime

Regal 2750 Cuddy (2010-) Price

Regal 2750 Cuddy (2010-) Price

Pricing Range

$81,717.00

Prices, features, designs, and equipment are subject to change. Please see your local dealer or visit the builder's website for the latest information available on this boat model.